When Miami’s Randy Shannon and Houston’s Kevin Sumlin lead their teams onto the football field Saturday, advocates of diversity in higher education will have much to cheer about.
University of Miami President Donna Shalala and University of Houston President Renu Khator and hired Shannon and Sumlin in 2006 and 2007, respectively, as the first black head football coaches in their respective schools’ histories. Fortunately, their pressure-packed decisions seem to be paying big dividends this season. Shannon and Sumlin have lead their teams back to prominence in relatively short periods of time. Their early success has surprised many, but not diversity experts.
“I think that because women have encountered their share of challenges, have been through so much themselves, they may be more open to giving leadership opportunities to minorities,” says Diana Cordova, director of the Center for Advancement of Racial and Ethnic Equity at the American Council on Education. As to why the success of these coaches has come about so soon, she says, “These two women tapped into talent pools that had been overlooked, so their success doesn’t come as a huge surprise.”
Shannon, who started at linebacker on Miami’s 1987 national championship team, is in his third year as head coach at ninth-ranked Miami (2-0). He served as the team’s defensive coordinator for six seasons. Sumlin, in his second year at 17th-ranked Houston (2-0), served as co-offensive coordinator at the University of Oklahoma from 2006 to 2007.
